Wednesday, September 10, 2014

See Ya Later, Alligator

*Checks boxes in the corner*

*Sweeps up*

*Takes Bill Murray picture down*

*Sweeps again*

*Sighs*

It's moving day here at the Dandelion Patch. I've loved being here but it's time to go for a bunch of reasons. You can find new posts on WordPress but the archive will still be here. Thanks to all of you who've read me here, I certainly hope you'll join me there. One last spin before I close the door?

And Then There's Artis

So I spent yesterday not writing about something I've been thinking about and while it might seem like that was just a throwaway it really wasn't and neither is this one. This might actually be what I'm trying to say, though apparently I can only speak in Soundgarden at the moment.

Artis the Spoonman is a real guy and a respected musician. He played with Zappa which is good enough for me. He is odd, he is strange, he is beautiful, and he does his thing with total joy. There's no shame in that. There's no shame in being different, in approaching life in a way most people don't, however that is for you. Don't let anyone else tell you that you feel too much, or think too much, or write too much, or dream too much, or laugh too much, or cry too much, or want too much, or whatever it is that bugs them about you. Here's the thing: whatever bugs them about you also bugs them about themselves. Either they're ashamed of feeling, or thinking, or writing, or dreaming too much, or about the wrong things. You're going to places they wish they could but for whatever reason won't. That's not your problem, it's theirs. Don't let their inhibitions clip your wings.

In the meantime, have some Soundgarden. Freaking loud. Dance your heart out, grab some spoons, feel the weird. I'll be right there with you.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Monday Morning Something Or Other

I've been having a lot of difficulty writing about something that's been on my mind. If I work it out you'll see it, if I don't you won't. In the meantime, though, have this. Legend has it that during the filming of Singles Stone Gossard from Pearl Jam made up a list of song titles for fictitious band Citizen Dick's demo and among them were "Spoonman" and "Seasons." Chris Cornell took it as a challenge to write songs for each title and while "Spoonman" won a Grammy for Soundgarden a couple of years later, "Seasons" wound up on the soundtrack. Have a great day, whatever you're doing, and I'll be back later. Maybe.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Cherry Poppin' Daddy

Richard Armitage pops his social media cherry and Tweets. Happy birthday, Dude, have a riot!




 

Monday, August 18, 2014

Monday Morning Mashup: You've Been THUNDERSTRUCK

So on Friday I spun a couple of guys playing flaming bagpipes, including one of the most badass covers of "Thunderstruck" I've ever heard. As it happens, this summer has been big for "Thunderstruck" covers and I haven't done a mashup on a Monday in a looooong time so let's get to it.

A couple of weeks ago this vid was all over the place. A Finnish bluegrass band called Steve 'N' Seagulls have been releasing heavy metal and hard rock covers all summer (including "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden and "Holy Diver" by Dio) but this is the one that went viral for them.


When I went looking for this on YouTube this morning I couldn't remember their name (it is a Monday, after all) so I searched for "Thunderstruck bluegrass," because how many versions could there possibly be? As it turns out, there were three that came up immediately including this one by The Cleverlys, who've also covered BeyoncĂ©, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga (I'm preparing myself before I listen to their take on "Gangnam Style").


While I like both of those covers, I really really like the fiddle in the second one (we've talked about my thing about fiddle players, right?). So now that we're on string instruments you know what's coming, right? There's no way I can not play the 2Cellos version, shredding it really old school.


Awake now? A couple of cups of coffee and some screaming cello later and I definitely am. Have a great Monday!

Friday, August 15, 2014

Friday Kilty Goofiness

I'm certain that I won't be alone in appreciating the sight of Darth Vader in a kilt playing flaming bagpipes on a unicycle. If you needed a laugh today, and I really did, thank Kathie who sent me this after my last post. :)